21.2.1—Distinguish graphically between half-wave and full-wave rectification
- Syllabus
- 9702–2028–2029
- Objective
- 21.2.1
- Level
- A2
Half-wave and full-wave rectification differ in which half-cycles reach the load
Half-wave rectification passes one polarity half-cycle; full-wave rectification flips both half-cycles to the same load polarity.
Read the output graph: half-wave has gaps each alternate half-cycle, while full-wave pulses occur twice per input cycle and have higher ripple frequency.
A bridge rectifier uses four diodes to produce full-wave output without a centre-tapped transformer.
Rectification does not by itself make perfectly steady DC; smoothing capacitors reduce ripple after the diode stage.
ConceptA-Level CAIE Physics A2